67 Conversation before the Raid

"Really?" Silvia's eyes rounded, and her face brightened.

"Does that mean you will still help me clear the cave?" Silvia asked, voice soft and a little imploring. Her tone was always proud, but ever since what happened with the Horned Rabbits, her voice took in a softer tone when talking to Ren without her even knowing it.

"If you want, I'll pay for your services, equipment or not."

Ren shook his head. "We've already established our deal. And besides, I was the one who insisted on having a tank in the group. As long as he's good, and I get an equipment fit for me, then I don't mind having lesser loot."

Silvia briefly closed her eyes and released a breath.

"Thanks. I hope that you'll still listen to me even if I'm not the leader," she joked.

Ren just glossed over her relief and said with a monotone voice. "You're my client. You're the one who employed me. I'll only listen to you no matter who the leader is."

". . ." Silvia caught her tongue, and her eyes went wide at Ren's words. What happened to him that he was suddenly acting like a knight with principles and not just some money-hungry, blackmailing mongrel looking out to exploit her at every chances he got, like what happened at their first meeting?

Was this his way of making amends for what he did in their first encounter?

Or was she right all along in assuming that he might be into her as well?

Silvia suddenly saw Ren in a new light. Could it be that he was not such a brute after all? For once, he was acting like a gentleman.

"Anyway, I hope you don't forget our deal," Ren said when Silvia was busy prying for his face while thinking about his actions.

"Huh?"

Ren raised a brow. "The equipment if there's any and the money if there's none. We just discussed it not even seconds ago."

Silvia's mood plummeted, and all her good thoughts regarding Ren completely went down the drain. She waved her hand in annoyance. "Fine. Fine."

She then paused like she remembered something. "Oh, and another thing, besides all that I mentioned, he's bringing some of his friends along with the raid."

Ren was silent before he asked. "How many?"

"Not much. Only two people. One healer and one DPS."

*DPS (Damage per second) in this case. It pertained to players who have a high damage output.

Ren looked at the girl with short golden hair beside Pamela and the other male loitering close to Robert with clothes and a weapon akin to a Human [Swordsman].

Ren had a bad feeling regarding about this, but he kept his mouth shut. He didn't want to say anything that would cause mistrust and discord amongst the group.

And besides, Ren wasn't sure if he was going to be right with his thoughts. He was aware that he was too suspicious and always thought of a grim outcome. He needed to release some of the tension. It was exhausting to always overthink.

He needed to give at least a benefit of the doubt though he would not be complacent either.

But if he was right . . . Ren's eyes turned cold, looking at Robert, who was enjoying talking with the ladies.

Ren still wouldn't say anything about it.

If Silvia was going to put up a guild, then exposing her to all kinds of treachery would do her good. Experience is always the best teacher.

"Is that alright?" Silvia asked Ren.

Ren dodged the question and brought up another topic. "Speaking of which. I'll bring someone with me too."

". . . Huh?"

Before Silvia could say anything more, Ren cut in, "He's a Monk and would be a great help to us. Don't worry about the loot. We've already talked. As long as he gets EXP and gil, he doesn't care about the rest."

"Why didn't you tell me that there would be an extra person?" Silvia wasn't against the extra person, but she was more annoyed that Ren didn't tell her beforehand.

"I just met him a while ago by chance," Ren simply said. "If you're against it–"

Silvia immediately shook her head. "No. It's fine. Just tell me this early so I can tell the others beforehand. I have no qualms with it, but you know that even an additional person could be an issue since . . . you know EXP and gil would get reduced if there are too many members in a group." Silvia even had to reduce her number of members to accommodate Robert and his friends since she was thinking of the EXP and gil.

Ren knew that he had his fault for not telling her immediately and not confirming with her about Nikolai. He just simply forgot since all he could think about was clearing Vulcan's Cave, whatever it took.

Failure was never an option since the EXP penalty would surely be huge if they got wiped out.

"Sorry. It won't happen again."

Egh? Silvia was stunned yet again. She surely didn't expect Ren to apologize.

He portrayed himself to be prideful and confident and wouldn't admit any fault.

Silvia guessed that she had judged him wrong and re-evaluated Ren in her mind.

He was indeed prideful but knew how to apologize when at fault. She didn't know any men who were like that except Ragnar.

Come to think of it. She was surrounded by arrogant and prideful young masters all her life who didn't know what apology or defeat was. Her father, her relatives, her friends.

Silvia took a deep breath and changed the topic. "Where is he anyway? So I can introduce you to the others."

Ren shifted his gaze and searched for Nikolai. When he didn't spot him, he left him a message.

[Ren: Where are you?"]

"Mister!"

Ren and Silvia's attention flickered at the incoming tiger pup, who was wagging his tail and flapping his ears as he squeezed himself from the crowds.

Ren breathed easy. He thought Nikolai had ditched him. "Good. You made it."

"Sorry. Sorry. My sister had held me against my will. I had to make so many excuses for her to let me go."

Nikolai caught his breath the soonest he was in front of Ren.

"It's fine. I'm glad that you showed up."

Nikolai took in a large air intake before facing Ren with sparkling eyes. "Of course! I wouldn't miss this for the world! This is my first-time 'dungeoning,' and I'm so excited I could hardly breathe!"

Ren just shook his head while Silvia squinted her eyes at the kid.

"Nikolai?"

Both Ren and Nikolai looked at Silvia.

"Oh! Big Sister Silvia! You're here too?"

Silvia stifled a laugh, and she pointed at Nikolai while looking at Ren. "Don't tell me that Nikolai is the Monk you speak of?"

Ren nodded. "You know each other?"

"Yes," Nikolai answered. "Big sister Silvia is my sister's friend."

"Is that so?" Ren then faced Silvia. "Isn't that great that you're both acquainted."

"Egh?" Nikolai shifted his head between Silvia and Ren. "Don't tell me that the group you speak about is Sister Silvia's group?"

"Yes."

Nikolai burst into a smile. "That's great! We can play together!" then his smile fell right off his face. "If only sister . . ."

"Does Sumeri know that you're attempting a dungeon?"

"Yes."

Silvia grinned and raffled Nikolai's hair. "Tell her that you're in my team and that we had a blast so that sister of yours would get jealous, and she would start playing again."

Nikolai's downcast face turned brighter once more. "Yes!"

While Ren stood on the side like a statue, who didn't know what was going on with the conversation.

----

A/N

Electricity and Wifi was out yesterday because of the rain and thunder. So I'll try to publish four chapters today.

CHEERS!

PS.

I post A/N after I publish the chapter so the coins would remain the same even after I add one hundred or thousand words.

A/N doesn't add to the coin price.